Critical Thinking and Decision Making Quiz

The Constitution

• Essential Questions: Why do people create, structure, and change governments? How do societies balance individual and community rights? How does social change influence government?
• Chapter 5: The Constitution
• Lesson 1: The Country's First Governments
• Lesson 2: Creating a New Constitution
• Lesson 3: The Structure of the Constitution
• Lesson 4: Principles of the Constitution

The Story (Matters)

• Before the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, James Madison had already held significant political roles in Virginia.
• He helped create Virginia's state constitution, served in the Virginia House of Delegates, and the Continental Congress.
• Madison realized the need for a stronger central government and developed a plan incorporating national, state, and individual interests.
• His ideas became a blueprint for the US Constitution.
• James Madison became known as the "Father of the Constitution" for his major contributions.

Real-Life Civics

• The Constitution, written over 200 years ago, is still vital in present-day legal proceedings.
• Supreme Court justices and judges rely on the Constitution for decisions regarding issues like cell phone communication rights, laser technology, student rights, internet privacy, and violent content in media.
• The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia provides interactive exhibits to understand the creation and function of the Constitution.
• Bronze statues of prominent delegates such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and James Madison are displayed at the center.

Civic Literacy

• In 1975, people lined up for hours to view original copies of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and other historical documents on the Freedom Train.
• The exhibition toured 48 US states, showcasing America's founding documents to millions.

State Constitutions

• Before the Declaration of Independence, colonists formulated plans for independent governments.
• The Second Continental Congress encouraged colonies to create governments that promoted the happiness and safety of voters.
• New Hampshire was the first colony to establish itself as a state and create a constitution in January 1776.
• Other former colonies followed suit, developing their own constitutions within a few years.
• State constitutions shared similarities in their structure, with each having a legislature to create laws.

Articles of Confederation

• The Articles of Confederation established a weak central government for the US states. This was because the colonist did not want a strong central government like the one they had previously experienced under British Rule.
• The Articles were created in 1777 by the Second Continental Congress.
• The Articles of Confederation created issues for the US because it lacked the power to tax or enforce laws because it lacked a strong central government. Each state had its own power and did not give up any of their sovereignty.
• Each state was free to govern itself, which made some tasks difficult for the states to conquer together.
• A single, strong army under central control was needed for the war effort against the British.
• The Second Continental Congress created a confederation of states to establish a common purpose.
• The Articles created a "league of friendship" among the states.
• The power to tax and regulate trade was not given to the Confederation Congress.
• A major weakness was the nine-state vote requirement for any law passed; not all 13 states agreed to the plan.
• The inability of the central government to tax severely hindered its ability to pay its debts and fund programs.
• The lack of a strong executive branch, and a well-organized system of courts, further weakened the central government.
• The need for a stronger central government became evident.

Creating a New Constitution

• In 1787, there was a Constitutional Convention of state delegates that met in Philadelphia, seeking change from the Articles of Confederation.
• Thirteen states sent delegates, except Rhode Island, which opposed a stronger central government.
• Key figures included George Washington, who was chosen to lead the convention; James Madison, who wrote the Virginia Plan; and William Paterson, who proposed the New Jersey Plan.
• These delegates were educated and experienced in government.
• The convention met in secret, without public access, to allow open debate without concerns over public opinion or criticism.
• A Great Compromise combined elements of both the Virginia and New Jersey plans.
• The Three-Fifths Compromise addressed representation for states with enslaved populations.
• The delegates faced challenges from various viewpoints regarding the Constitution regarding the question of representation and slavery.
• This compromise counted enslaved people as three-fifths of other persons in determining representation in Congress; the same rule was also used for assessing taxes on the states.
• The convention sought plans for regulating international trade and trade among various states. Northern states wanted a significant role in foreign trade and trade among the different states. Southern states were wary of congressional taxes on exported goods.
• The delegates addressed issues concerning the new national government structure and established principles for this new nation.

The Structure of the Constitution

• The Constitution is the supreme law of the US.
• It provides a plan for government.
• It includes a Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments.
• The Preamble (introduction) outlines the goals and purposes of the US government; the seven articles (main parts) describe the structure of the government; the 27 amendments (additions/changes) adjust the government's operations over time.

Principles of the United States Government

• Popular Sovereignty: Power resides with the people. They express their will through elected representatives.
• Limited Government: The government can only do what the people empower it to do. All government power comes from the consent of the governed.
• Rule of Law: Everyone, including government officials, is accountable to the law.
• Separation of Powers: Dividing governmental powers among three co-equal but separate branches (legislative, executive, and judicial).
• Checks and Balances: Each branch has power to limit the powers of other branches to balance authority.
• Federalism: Power is shared between state and federal governments; federal power is supreme when there is a conflict.

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